A fine day for a reunion

The beech tree’s inventory tag allows those with global positioning satellite access to pinpoint its location. It was tagged as part of the Urban Foresters grant.

Franklyn Dailey stands in front of the 120-year-old beech tree that he used to climb as a child. A trench was dug around the tree to preserve the roots and prevent them from being damaged when the lawn was mowed.

Attendees listen to his comments. Photos by Rick Nicholson.

A fine day for a reunion

FFranklyn Dailey remembers the beech tree in the front yard of his home on 52 South Avenue as being much smaller when he climbed it as a child. His grandfather built the family home in the 1890s, but following a foreclosure the family had to move and the new owners let the family homestead fall into disrepair.

Dailey was back at the site on August 3 for a “Dailey Day” party and reunion. Residents of the South Avenue area have been trying to get the village to designate the site of the former Dailey home – which is now a vacant piece of land – as a park. They would like to keep it as green space for the neighborhood families to enjoy. The piece of land is also home to a 120-year old beech tree.

Bob Canham, who is spearheading the efforts to keep the plot of land green space, has reminded village officials that it is the only green space in that quadrant of the village. “It’s the only part that doesn’t have a playground,” he said.

Dailey, 85, who now lives in Massachusetts, remembers the family home as being of Victorian design complete with a basement, three stories and a cupola.

Canham said it was great to have Dailey back in town. “He talked to the crowd for about 20 minutes then answered questions of his time living in the village,” he said. “There were about 50 people in attendance.”

Village Historian Emeritus Bill Andrews researched the history of the tree and discovered its age. The tree has also recently been tagged and added to the inventory being compiled under an urban foresters grant.

Dailey, in addition to being a former Brockport native, is also the author of My Times With The Sisters: And Other Events which details his life growing up in a small upstate New York village from 1926 to 1932.

“It was a great day and I hope it raised awareness of the history this tree has in our village,” Canham said.

During the event, Trustee Hanny Heyen introduced Dailey; her husband, William Heyen, conducted a poetry reading, while visitors were treated to refreshments of homemade ice cream and “Beech Nut Punch.”